Chelsea will save £10million over two years if Hernan Crespo sees out the remainder of his Blues career with Inter Milan.

Crespo left Chelsea to rejoin his former club on a two-year loan deal,
although the Premiership champions can recall the Argentina striker
after 12 months.

The 31-year-old failed to adapt to life in England and unless Chelsea recall
the player in a year's time, he will stay in Italy until the end of his contract
with Jose Mourinho's men.

That will enable Chelsea to make a gross saving of £10million in wages during
the two-year period as the striker is currently earning £5million a year at
Stamford Bridge.

With Crespo's salary off the wage bill, Mourinho can set about the task of
replacing him, with Inter's Obafemi Martins among the players being targeted by
the Londoners.

The Nigeria forward requested a transfer after hearing of Crespo's arrival and
Chelsea, along with Tottenham and Newcastle, will keep a close eye on
developments concerning the £15million-rated youngster.

But while Martins was adamant he wanted to leave Inter, there was no hiding
Crespo's delight at securing his loan deal.

Crespo declared: 'I feel an incredible joy. I can't wait to start and I know
I will have many responsibilities. The pressure has never frightened me,' he
told the Italian club's official website, www.inter.it.

'I hope and want to do well, very well. I am back at Inter, a club and a team
with which I had a very intense rapport that I have always respected.

'It was hard when I left to join Chelsea, I still remember that I cried when
leaving Appiano Gentile (Inter's training ground).

'What I felt then was like leaving a big family and thinking I would not have
another chance. But I have it now and I'm keeping hold of it.

'For me and for my career, being back at Inter and seeing my name linked to
all the big European clubs is a reason to be proud. I will put myself at the
service of the team and the coach, I will always play with passion and give my
all.'

Crespo found it increasingly hard to settle in London and his unhappiness was
typified by a poor opening season with the Blues.

He was then allowed to join Inter's fierce rivals AC Milan on a season-long
loan and helped them to reach the Champions League final - losing out on
penalties to Liverpool in one of the most incredible European games ever
witnessed.

Crespo scored twice against Rafael Benitez's triumphant Liverpool side before
returning to Chelsea where he played relatively regularly under Mourinho last
season.

But as Chelsea sealed their second successive Premiership crown, Crespo made
it clear his heart remained set on a return to Italy and he thanked Chelsea for
their understanding.

Crespo added: 'I have to thank Chelsea, the chairman and the coach because
they understood what I wanted as a man and they have made me happy.

'I have a special, sentimental and now legal relationship with Italy. I am
officially an Italian citizen. I have an Italian wife and two Milanese
daughters, Nicole and Sofia. They are at home here.'